Raise your credit score with specific actions: review your credit report for errors, reduce utilization below 30%, build payment history, manage credit age, and set up ongoing monitoring.
Pull free credit reports from all 3 bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com
You're entitled to one free report per bureau per year by federal law. Since 2023, free weekly reports are also available. Pull all 3 because each bureau may have different information.
Check each account listed for accuracy (balances, payment history, status)
About 25% of consumers have errors on at least one report. Look for accounts you don't recognize, incorrect balances, or payments marked late that you paid on time.
Look for negative items: late payments, collections, charge-offs, bankruptcies
Most negative items stay on your report for 7 years, bankruptcies for 10 years. Note the date of each negative item—older items impact your score less than recent ones.
Check for unauthorized hard inquiries you didn't initiate
Each hard inquiry can lower your score by 5-10 points and stays for 2 years. If you see inquiries you didn't authorize, this could indicate identity theft and should be disputed immediately.
Dispute Errors and Inaccuracies
File disputes with each bureau for any incorrect information found
Submit disputes online through each bureau's website. Bureaus have 30 days to investigate. Include supporting documents like payment receipts or bank statements for faster resolution.
Send a dispute letter to the creditor reporting the error
Disputing directly with the creditor (called a direct dispute) often resolves faster. Send via certified mail with return receipt. Keep copies of everything you send.
Follow up on disputes within 45 days to confirm corrections
After the 30-day investigation period, request an updated report. If the error persists, escalate by filing a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
Build Perfect Payment History (35% of Score)
Set up autopay for at least the minimum payment on every account
Payment history is the single largest factor at 35% of your FICO score. One 30-day late payment can drop your score by 80-110 points. Autopay prevents this entirely.
Set calendar reminders 5 days before each due date as a backup
Even with autopay, reminders let you verify payments went through. Bank account issues or expired card numbers can cause autopay failures that trigger late marks.
If you have a recent late payment, call the creditor to request a goodwill removal
If you have an otherwise clean history, many creditors will remove a single late payment as a courtesy. Call and politely explain the situation. Success rates vary but run 30%-50% for first-time lapses.
Bring any past-due accounts current immediately
An account 60 days late hurts more than 30 days, and 90 days more than 60. Getting current stops further damage. The late mark stays but its impact fades after 12-24 months of on-time payments.
Reduce Credit Utilization (Under 30%)
Calculate your current utilization ratio (total balances divided by total limits)
If you have $3,000 in balances across cards with $10,000 total limit, your utilization is 30%. Utilization accounts for 30% of your FICO score and is the fastest factor to improve.
Pay down balances to get below 30% utilization on each card and overall
Below 30% is good, below 10% is excellent. Dropping from 50% to under 10% utilization can boost your score by 50-100 points within 1-2 billing cycles.
Request credit limit increases on existing cards to lower your ratio
A limit increase from $5,000 to $8,000 drops your utilization from 40% to 25% on a $2,000 balance—without paying anything down. Request increases every 6-12 months on cards in good standing.
Pay balances before the statement closing date, not just by the due date
Your balance is reported to bureaus on the statement closing date, not the due date. Paying down before the statement closes means a lower reported balance and lower utilization.
Manage Credit Age and Account Mix
Keep your oldest credit accounts open even if you rarely use them
Length of credit history is 15% of your score. Closing a 10-year-old card shortens your average age and can drop your score by 15-40 points. Use old cards for one small purchase per quarter to keep them active.
Avoid opening multiple new accounts in a short period
Each new account lowers your average account age and triggers a hard inquiry. Spacing applications at least 6 months apart minimizes the impact. New accounts make up 10% of your score.
Consider becoming an authorized user on a family member's old, low-utilization card
Being added as an authorized user inherits that card's age and payment history on your report. A parent's 15-year-old card with perfect history can add 20-50 points to a thin credit file.
Set Up Ongoing Monitoring
Sign up for a free credit monitoring service
Several banks and card issuers offer free FICO score tracking updated monthly. Third-party services provide alerts for new accounts, inquiries, and score changes at no cost.
Set a quarterly reminder to review your credit report for new errors
Check one bureau each quarter on a rotating basis: January (Equifax), April (Experian), July (TransUnion), October (Equifax again). This spreads coverage across the full year.
Freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus to prevent unauthorized accounts
A credit freeze is free by law and prevents anyone from opening accounts in your name. You can temporarily lift it in minutes when you need to apply for credit. This is the best protection against identity theft.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to improve a credit score by 100 points?
With focused effort, improving by 100 points typically takes 3-6 months for someone starting in the 500-600 range, but 6-12 months for someone in the 650-700 range seeking to reach 750+. The fastest wins come from paying down credit card balances below 30% utilization (can boost scores 20-40 points in one billing cycle) and getting errors removed from your report. Late payments take 12-24 months of on-time history to meaningfully recover from.
Does checking my own credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and has zero impact. Hard inquiries (when lenders pull your credit for a loan or credit card application) reduce your score by 5-10 points and remain on your report for two years. You can check your score unlimited times through services like Credit Karma, your bank's free score tool, or annualcreditreport.com without any penalty.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
FHA loans require a minimum 580 score for 3.5% down payment (500-579 requires 10% down). Conventional loans through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac typically require 620-640 minimum. To get the best mortgage rates, aim for 740+, where you qualify for the lowest rate tier. Each 20-point improvement between 680-740 can save $50-$150 per month on a $300,000 mortgage over 30 years.
Should I close old credit cards I no longer use?
Generally no. Closing old cards reduces your total available credit (increasing utilization ratio) and eventually shortens your credit history length, both of which lower your score. The exception is cards with high annual fees that you cannot downgrade to a no-fee version. If the card has no annual fee, keep it open and make a small purchase every 6-12 months to prevent the issuer from closing it for inactivity.
How do authorized user accounts affect my credit?
Being added as an authorized user on someone else's credit card can boost your score if the account has a long history, low utilization, and perfect payment record. This is a common strategy for parents building a child's credit or spouses with limited credit history. The full account history typically appears on your report within 30-60 days. If the primary cardholder misses payments, however, it damages your score too.